Self-operating photoprint washer



Nov. 25, 1958 R. B. DODSON 2,861,509

SELF OPERATING PHOTOPRINT WASHER Filed Nov. 20, 1956 ATTCI RN EYE INVENTOR;

United States Patent 2,861,509 SELF-OPERATING PHOTOPRINT WASHER Reb B. Dodson, Post, Tex.

Application November 20, 1956, Serial No. 623,345

1 Claim. (CI. 95-99) This invention relates to photography and particularly developing films and paper therein, and in particular a tilting tray for washing photographic prints and the like in which the weight of water in the tray overbalances the tray with the result that a valve opens to permit the escape of water from the tray and when the remaining water reaches a predetermined level water in a compartment at one end of the tray overbalances the water in the remainder of the tray, bringing the tray back to the original or horizontal position.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a developing tray particularly adapted for washing film and prints in which the tray is filled with water and the weight of the water first tilts the tray, opening a valve to permit the escape of the water and the weight of water remaining in the tray returns the tray to the starting position wherein the tray again fills with water and is again overbalanced, repeating a cycle of operation with film, prints, and the like therein being washed with each step of the cycle.

Photographic film and prints are washed by placing the prints in trays of water and with the photographer tilting the trays by raising first one end and then the other and thereby continuously flushing the water over the film or negative. This action continues until the film or prints are completely washed and as the tray is manually actuated considerable time is required to wash film and prints. With this thought in mind this invention contemplates a tray in which water therein continuously tilts the tray and returns the tray to a horizontal position wherein the water passing through the tray washes the film or prints in cycles.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide a tilting tray for washing photographic film, prints, and the like in which the tray is actuated by the weight of water therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tilting tray for washing film, prints, and the like in which the tilting movement of the tray opens a valve that permits escape of water from the tray and in which means is provided for preventing film, paper and the like sliding over the valve.

A further object of the invention is to provide a water actuated tilting tray for washing photographic film, prints, and the like in which the tray is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies an elongated substantially rectangular-shaped tray having a water compartment in one end and a gravity actuated valve in the opposite end in which the tray is supported by a cleat offset from the center and also a cleat positioned below the water compartment wherein the weight of water in the tray overbalances the end thereof in which the valve is positioned as the water in the tray reaches the elevation of the water in the compartment so that the valve is opened permitting the escape of the water and wherein the weight of water in the compartment brings the tray back to the original 2,861,509 Patented Nov. 25, 1958 position as the elevation of the water in the body of the tray drops to a low level.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view showing the improved tilting tray with parts of one end of the tray broken away showing the gravity actuated valve and also a bafiie for preventing the prints sliding to a position over the valve.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the tray with the tray in a horizontal position.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section, similar to that shown in Fig. 2 showing the tray tilted wherein the valve is opened so that water in the tray'is flowing through the valve.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the improved tilting photographic tray of this invention includes a rectangular-shaped body having a base 10 with side walls 11 and 12, end walls 13 and 14, an inclined partition 15 and a baffie 16.

The tray is supported upon an off center cleat 17 and a similar cleat 18 is positioned at the end in which the partition 15 is located whereby with a compartment 19 separated from the tray by the partition 18 filled with water the weight of the water supports the tray in a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 2 until the level of the water in the body of the tray reaches the water level in the compartment 19, at which time, the cleat 17 being positioned closer to the end upon which the cleat 18 is mounted than to the opposite end the weight of water in the end of the tray opposite to the end in which the compartment 19 is positioned overbalances the tray with the result that a stem 20 of a valve 21 engages a surface 22 upon which the tray is positioned moving the valve member or disc 21 upwardly away from the base 10, opening the valve and permitting the water to escape through an opening 23 through which the stem 2% extends.

The valve member or disc 21 is retained in position by a plurality of lugs or posts 24 extended upwardly from the base 10. By this means the valve member is freely mounted on the base 10 and upon engagement of the lower end of the stem 20 with the surface 22 the disc 21 moves upwardly away from the base opening the valve and permitting the escape of the water in the tray.

The end of the tray, in which the valve is positioned, is also provided with steps or feet 25 and 26 that engage the surface 22, limiting the opening movement of the valves and retaining the end of the tray in spaced relation to the surface 22.

Operation With the parts positioned as illustrated and described and with the compartment 19 positioned below a tap 27 water dropping into the compartment 19 fills the compartment with the overflow passing into the body of the tray and with the water level reaching a line substantially corresponding with the upper edge of the compartment 19, as in Fig. 3, the cleat 17 being off center, the end of the tray in which the valve is positioned, being longer than the opposite tray, is moved downwardly by the weight of the water and with the stem 20 engaging the surface 22 and opening the valve thereby flushing the water from the tray until the water level reaches a point where the weight of the water in the compartment 19 will overbalance the water in the end of the tray in which the valve is positioned and the tray will return to the position shown in Fig. 2 with the water level at the point shown in Fig. 2.

The balfie 16 prevents film or prints sliding with the water over the valve 21 so that the film or prints do not close the valve.

It will be understood that modifications, within the scope of the appended claim, may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

In a photographic washer, the combination which comprises an elongated tray having a bottom with side and end walls With an opening in the bottom and spaced inwardly from one end, said tray also having a transversely disposed bafile spaced inwardly from said opening and a forwardly and downwardly inclined partition therein providing a compartment in the end opposite to that in which the opening is positioned above the plane of the bottom, a disc positioned on the bottom of the tray adjacent one end thereof, said disc having a stem extending through said opening providing a valve, the stem of the valve being positioned to engage a surface upon which the tray is positioned to open the valve, a plurality of radially spaced vertically disposed lugs positioned on the bottom of the tray in circumjacent relation to said disc to stabilize the movement of said disc, feet secured to the lower surface of the bottom of the tray at the oppositecorners thereof at that end of the tray in which the disc is positioned, a transversely disposed cleat mounted on the lower surface of the bottom of the tray and positioned below the compartment, and another transversely disposed cleat mounted on the lower surface of the bottom of the tray and positioned a greater distance from the end in which the valve is positioned than from the end in which the compartment is positioned.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 361,070 Long Apr. 12, 1887 605,229 Leigh a- June 7, 1898 2,141,162 Brandt Dec. 27, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS 712 Great Britain 1884 24,379 Great Britain 1901 

